Meeting the ACEA C5 standard

23/02/2018

The automotive industry is continually evolving and car manufacturers must continue to juggle lowered emissions with optimum vehicle performance, but they aren't the only ones. Increasingly oil manufacturers must be able to offer lubricants that to support reduced emissions, improved fuel economy and excellent engine performance.

The most recent ACEA C5 regulations have been put in place to characterise oils that offer significantly increased fuel efficiency across petrol and light and heavy-duty diesel engines. By promoting higher performing oils, workshops and motor factors can play a part in reducing emissions across these engines whilst ensuring customer vehicles can run as effectively as possible. As of 1st December 2017 all new oils released into the market need to meet the ACEA 2016 requirements, be that C3 or the new C5 sequence. Existing oils already in the market may not need to meet the 2016 requirements until December 2018. By 1st December 2018, all oils must meet the 2016 requirements.

The newest ACEA C5 regulations set new performance requirements for HTHS Viscosity (High Temperature High Shear) values (2.6 mPas to 2.9 mPas ), helping to avoid oil drag and offer Fuel Economy improvement of more than 3% in the CEC L-054-96 test; which is 2% greater than C3 oils requirements. To meet these requirements, C5 oil will typically be a xW-20 viscosity grade. These and other requirements ensure that ACEA C5 oils are the most efficient to reach the market.The new regulations have replaced obsolete engine oil tests and introduced new bench and engine tests with unique requirements, addressing some of the damaging impact biofuels can have on engines.

Among the small number of oils currently able to meet ACEA C5 are Comma's Eco-F 5W-20 and Eco-V 0W-20, offering workshops the opportunity to provide the next generation of fuel efficient oils to customers right now.

Both the ECO-F 5W-20 and ECO-V 0W-20 are high performance and fully synthetic engine oils. Comma Oil's website can help ensure workshops use the correct oil grade for vehicles whilst also offering product recommendations with a 100% compatibility guarantee for engine oil, brake fluid and antifreeze & coolants for most European vehicles. Visit the site here.For further information on the ACEA sequence contact your local Territory Sales Manager, or call Comma Customer Services on 01474 564 311.